The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE indicates continuing action, something going on now. This tense is formed with the helping "to be" verb, in the present tense, plus the present participle of the verb (with an -ing ending): "I am buying all my family's Christmas gifts early this year. She is working through the holiday break. Dierdre is being a really good girl in these days before Christmas".
The present progressive can suggest that an action is going to happen in the future, especially with verbs that convey the idea of a plan or of movement from one place or condition to another: "The team is arriving in two hours. He's moving to Portland this summer." Because the present progressive can suggest either the present or the future, it is usually modified by adverbs of time.
| Singular | Plural |
| I am walking | we are walking |
| you are walking | you are walking |
| he/she/it is walking | they are walking |
| Singular | Plural |
| I am sleeping | we are sleeping |
| you are sleeping | you are sleeping |
| he/she/it is sleeping | they are sleeping |
| Singular | Plural |
| I am being | we are being |
| you are being | you are being |
| he/she/it is being | they are being |